Apparatus for spotting fabric materials



. April 18, 1944. w. M. clssx-:LL

APPARATUS FOR SPOTTING FABRIC MATERIALS llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll llIillllr Filed June 28, 1940 mc. .u MMX@ WM n NM A la@ W0/ Patented Apr. l18, 1944 APPARATUS Fon srorrrNG FABRIC MATERIALS william M. oissell, nw Louisville, xy.

' v Application June 28, 1940, Serial No. 342,855

(ol. aa-5) s claims'.

This -invention relates to improvements in a steam humidifier-for use in connection with steam cleaning and garment treating apparatus.

In cleaning and pressing certain fabrics with steam, particularly Silks, velvets and woolens, it is necessary to vary and to change instantaneously the moisture content of the steam while the fabric is under treatment to provide the most effective and eflicient cleaning and pressing thereof.

Therefore, one object of this invention is to provide apparatus for varying and instantaneously changing the moisture content of steam.

Another object of this invention is to provide a simple and compact device having a foot pedal control so that the hands of the operator are retained free for handling of the garment. Y

A further object of this invention is to provide a co-acting valve assembly for controlling'simultaneously the rate of ow and moisture content of the steam. l

The advantages o f these and other objects will become apparent as the following description is read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a partial plan View of the steam condensing chamber showing the arrangement of the pedal-actuated control-valves on the head of the chamber, and the pre-set regulatingvalves;

Figure 2 is a partial side elevational view showing the co-acting relation between the dry-steam and moisture control valves actuated by the foot pedal, and also the corresponding pre-set regulating valves;

Figure 3 is a partial'sectional view taken along lines 3 3 of Figure 2 showing the constructional details of the steam condensing chamber and pedal-actuated control-valves.

The preferred embodiment of the invention illustratedv in the accompanying drawing has found particular use in removing spots from fabric garments and in treating the nap or pile of fabrics.

For this use, the apparatus is referred to as a steam spotting-unit. or as amoisture-oontrolled spotting-unit, and the steam condensing chamber I illustrated in the accompanying drawing is installed in a vertical position at one end zontal spotting board.

The steam supply connection is made at 4, and this connection has a union and gate valve interposed therein for facilitating servicing of the apparatus.

The return line connection -is made at 5, and this connection likewise has a union and gate the return line'connection near the steam condensing chamber. However, if the steam is returned to the boiler under pressure, the trap may be omitted, and replaced by a suitable check valve installed in the steam return line near the steam condensing chamber.

A suitable foot pedal is installed horizontally beneath the spotting board, and this pedal is connested, via chain 8, to levers Sand. Ill, which levers actuate the dry steam valve II and moisture valve I2. Y

At one end of the spotting board, a combination hanger and drip-cup for the spotting gun I4 is installed, which cup has an outlet connection to a suitable drain.

In operation, with the foot pedal depressed half-way, valve II opens anddry-steam is exhausted from the spotting gun I4, via hose connection 6. With the foot'pedal depressed completely, both valves II and I2 open, and wetsteam is exhausted from the spotting gun Il, via the hose connection 6.

Pre-set regulating valves I5 and I6 are associated with conduit 20 connecting the pedal-actuated valves II and I2,-and these regulating valves are adjusted to provide the desired mixture of dry steam and moisture.

In operation, itis customary to cover the horizontal spotting board with a Turkish towel boot, which boot absorbs the excess moisture liberated particularly in spotting silks and velvets. It is also customary to install these boots so that they may be quickly removed and replaced, inasmuch as they have been. found to be unnecessary when y spotting woolens or heavy fabrics.l

.of a hori- Through experience, the operator soon learns the correct way of holding the gun, and the proper distance for exhausting either the dry or.

wet steam from the spotting gun I4 onto the surface of the fabric. y

Ordinarily, the spotting gun. I4 is held in a diagonal position when spotting silks and velvets. and under no circumstances is steam released directly over the spot or straight down upon a silk or velvet fabric. l Y

In spotting silks it has been observed that satisfactory results are obtained when the spotting gun il is held at an angle 4 inches above and from 8 to. l2 inches` away lfrom the spot, which angle is varied slightly Idepending upon the type of material and dye used in, the fabric. This Vrelation permits the steam'exhausted from the n mamma u meeoinmeienuy. 'and um enminate any bleeding of color.

From experience the operator also correct amount of steam that may be released on variomsilksduetothedyeandweaveofthe fabric, andwhetherdryorwetsteamistobeused for the spot removing operation. However, in each instance, dry steam is used for ieathering. Likewise, water spots on synthetics, as usually found on the linings of ladies coats, are removed quickly by applying dry steam.

In spotting velvets, thespotting gun Il is held in a similar diagonal position, at least 4 inches above and from 12 to 18 inches away fromthe spot. This relation prevents matting of the pile of the velvet, and it is also customary to-employ dry steam for feathering. d

In spotting woolens, the spotting gun I4 is held straight down and as close to the fabric as desired. Ordinarily, to break-down heavy spotsin woolens, a generous application of wet steam is necessary, ,which application is immediately followed with an application of dry steam for blowing-oil' and removing excess moisture. When it is found necessary to saturate the fabric, the saturated spot may be tapped with a chamois to assist the removal of the excess moisture.

For convenience, the nozzle of the spottin gun Il is constructed so that it may be used as a spatula orr scraper.

Having thug explained the general arrangement and operation of the apparatus, reference is now made to the drawing for amore detaileddescription of the construction ofthe essential parts.

With reference to Figure 3 it will be observed learnstheby a corresponding lever l and Il. As illustratedthat the device comprises a vertically disposed steam condensing chamber 1, whichchamber has a connection to the steam supply line at l, and

a connection to the steam return line at 5.

An overflow connection I1 is provided in the bottom of the steam condensing chamber 1, which connection is constructed and arranged so that water II. formed fromcondensed steam, accumulates in the bottom of the steam condensing chamber 1 to the level determined by the heih of the overflow connection.

A removable head I! encloses the steam condensing chamber 1, and this headV has included therein a dry-steam valve It and a moisture valve I2.

A conduit 2l connects the outlets oix each of the aforesaid dry-steam and moisture valves, which conduit is intercepted by a hose connection l, as illustrated in Fillllre l. Conduit 2l servesas a mixing chamber'.

As illustrated in Figure 3, a conduit 2I depends from the inlet ci the moisture valve I2, and this lxmduit extends well below the -levei of th'e water Each outlet of the aforesaid dry-steam andl moisture valves II and I2 is provided with a guitable needle-valve Il and Il, for regulating the desired mixture of dry-steam and moisture.

, Thus, steam entering at 4 partially condenses, andthe condensate Il formed thereby, along.

with any other condensate present in the steam received in the chamber, accumulates in the bottom of the steam condensing chamber 1.

Opening valve II only, exhausts dry-steam from the top portion oi' the. chamber 1, while simultaneously opening each ofthe valves II and I2 syphons water from the bottom of the chamber 1, which water atomises in passing through the iets of valves I2 and Il, andis mixed with features. Therefore, it is to be understood that the dry-steamexhauste'd from valve II. Thin,

the moisture` contento! tbe steam is greatly increased, asdete'rmined bythe pre-set adjustment of tbe regulating valves Il and it.

With further reference to the drawing it will beobservedthateachvalve II and I2isactuated inFigures 1and2,tbelever l ofthe dry-steam valve is disposed above the lever Il of the moisture valve, and the levers are arranged so that a movement of lever l half-down opens only the dry-steam valve II, while a movement of lever l completely down depresses lever Il, and the moisture valve I2 is opened simultaneously with the dry-steam valve I I.

As mentioned herelnbefore, and'illustrated in Figure 2, the levers l and'll are connected via chain I and link 22 to a foot-actuated pedal control.

As further illustrated in Figure 3, each of the valves Il and I2 are biased to their normallyclosed positions via compression springs 22 and 24. In this respect attention is directed to the fact thatthe construction of each of the valves II and I2 is similar. Therefore, a description oi valve I2 will sufllce for both of them.

The reciprocating stem. of valve I2 has a conical gate 2B nxedly secured to its inner end, which gate 25 is adapted to register with a 'seat formed in the inner face of the removable head II for closing communication between the conduits 2l and 2|. As illustrated, a suitable packing 2l 'seals the reciprocating valve stem by means of a gland 21 and nut 28.

As particularly illustrated in Figure 2, a cradle 29 is adiustably secured to the outer face of head normally-closed condition.

The lever Il is plvotally secured at to one arm of the cradle 2l, and is guided within the forked construction of the opposite arm, and, as hereinbeiore mentioned, a depression of lever Il depresses the reciprocating stem of valve I2, and thereby opens same.

Eaclrof the regulating needle valves Il and Il are constructed in accordance with customary standards. Accordingly, a detailed description' thereof is omitted, as it is believed that their construction and application is readily understood upon examining the accompnyln drawing.

As hereinbefore mentioned, hose l connects the spotting gun I4, which gun has a discharge noasle at 2l.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the construction and operation of the illustrated embodiment has many new and novel 'Iamnottobelimitedinanymannerotherthan bythe scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, I claim: i. In apparatus for treating and cleaning fabric materials, the combination of a mixing cham ber, an inlet connection to said chamber from a source of steam, an inlet connection to 'said chamber from a source of water, a spotting gun, an outlet connection for supplying steam from said mixing chamber to said spotting gun, a normally closed valve in each of said inlet connections. an actuating member for each valve, an

operating member common to said valves, and

Y operating connections from said operating memquired moisture content from a mixing chamber ber to said actuating members, and means in the operating connection of the water valve providing a predetermined lost-motion to eect opening of the steam valve ahead of the water valve and to permit opening and closing of the steam valve alone when said operating member is operated through distances not exceeding the lost-motion provided in the operating connection to said water valve, whereby steam of varying wetness is supplied to said gun.v

2. Apparatus according to claim l wherein said lost-motion connection provides for the closing of the water valve ahead of the closing of the steam valve.

3. In apparatus for treating and cleaning fabric materials with wet and dry steam wherein a spotting g'un is supplied with steam of the rehaving an inlet connection to a source oi steam and a second inlet connection to a source of water, the combination of a normally closed valve in each oi' said inlet connections, an actuating member for each valve, an operating member common to said valves, and operating connections from said operating member to said actuating members, and means in the operating oonnection of the water valve providing a predetermined lost-motion to eiIect opening of the steam valve ahead of the water valve and to permit opening and closing of the steam valve alone when said operating member is operated through distances not exceeding the lost motion provided in the operating connection to said water valve.

WILLIAM M. CISSELL. 

